Animal appeasing pheromones

Abstract

A composition comprising a mixture of fatty acids such as, linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids or deriviatives thereof dervived from secretions o mammalian mammary glands. The compositions can be utilized to decrease stress, anxiety and aggressiveness in mammals.

Description

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a mixture of fatty acids or derivatives thereof derived from secretions of mammalian mammary glands. This composition can be utilized to decrease stress, anxiety and aggressiveness in mammals.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ARTStress, by definition, is the reaction of an animal body to forces of deleterious nature, infections and various abnormal states that tend to disturb homeostasis.Animals exposed to stress respond with changes in the activity of the autonomic and neuroendocrine systems and in behavior. The activation of these biological systems is a prerequisite for the animal to cope with stress and thus is the principal resource that will provide the adequate biological defense against a threat that challenges the homeostasis of the animal. Moberg, G. P. Animal Stress, pp. 27-49 (1985); Vogel, W. H. Neuropsychobiology, 13 pp. 1290135 (1985).In animals, including humans, stress stimulates the release of Adenocorticotropic hormone ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Effect on Feeding Behavior of Dogs in an Unknown Place

A population of 10 dogs admitted for minor surgery at a veterinary hospital and unaffected in their general health conditions were selected for this study.

The cages of 5 dogs were sprayed with a polypropylene glycol control. The other cages of 5 dogs were sprayed with the composition PAP-1 of the present invention.

After surgery, the dogs were placed in their respective cages and all of these cages were provided with food and water.

The dogs whose cages were sprayed with the pheromone had eaten more food and appeared to be more relaxed after surgery than the dogs in the control.

The dogs whose cages were sprayed with the pheromone had eaten more food and appeared to be more relaxed after surgery than the dogs in the control. When compared to Example 6, the use of the particular composition had a greater effect on the dogs; i.e., more food was eaten and the dogs appeared to be more relaxed.

Problems solved by technology

In humans, stress can lead to medical problems such as ulcers and erosions, acute gastritis and diarrhea.

The result of animals being taken out of their environment, being herded together and transported often results in the animals being stressed.

As a consequence, pathological disorders, mortality, delays in growth and disorders in behavior often occur in stress-related conditions.

Disorders in behavior often lead to aggressive fighting when animals are mixed.

This social stress often leads to agonistic behavior among animals, which consists of fighting or trying to escape.

While pigs rarely kill one another, the fighting often inflicts large wounds during the course of the battle, especially on the head, ears, neck and shoulders.

However, no one knows the long-term effects of these drugs when humans consume meat taken from animals that have been given the various drugs.

In fact, in many cases, the administration of neuroleptic drugs in the feeds to fatten animals does not directly improve production and have adverse effects such as slower weight increase, a decline in milk production in dairy cows and a decline in laying eggs in the case of poultry.

Due to this maternal attraction, when piglets are separated from their mothers, stress-related behavior often results which leads to increase in fighting, and stress-related weight loss.

This phenomenon is also observed in other mammals such as humans, when an infant is separated from its mother leading to anxiety in the child.

Thus, to treat stress and stress-related symptoms without using the various tranquilizing drugs in mammals has not yet been achieved.

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